Lock



Get. 1, 1935.

s. BLUMENFELD ET AL LOCK Original Filed July 50, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l J r:l-

8 I INVENT R5: 0

1v IATTORNEE.

1935. s. BLUMENFELD ETAL 5,

LOCK

Original Filed July 50, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES LOCK Siegmund Blumenfeld, New York, and Pasquale Lo Cascio, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 30, 1932, Serial No. 626,560 Renewed December 28, 1934 4 Claims.

Our invention relates to locks, and more particularly to that class of locks which are commonly known as permutation or combination locks, in which a number of circular rotatable disks are employed in connection with a bolt, which bolt can be operated only when all of said disks are in certain predeterminedpositions with relation to each other.

We are aware that permutation or combination locks of various types are well known in the art to which our invention relates, and we have not attempted to produce nor do we claim any type of such lock which is radically new in any broad or general way. One of the principal objects of our invention is to produce a lock of the kind mentioned which shall be simple in construction, efficient in operation, easy to assemble, not readily tampered with byunauthorized persons or injured by unskillful handling, which by reason of the comparatively small number of parts constituting the lock is economical tomanufacture and assemble, and which comprises no rivets, screws or similar securing means and no springs or such like fragile devices liable to break or get out of order.

Further objects and advantages of the inven-' tion will be in part set forth in the following specification, and in part will be obvioustherefrom without being specifically pointed out, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and structural characteristics and relative arrangements and combinations which will be hereinafter more fully described or which will be pointed out in the claims hereof.

With the above and other objects of the invention in View, the inventionconsists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of various devices, elements and parts, as set forth in the claims hereof, one embodiment of the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in this specification.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a device constructed according to our invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 3 to 18, both inclusive, are detail views which will be hereinafter particularly described.

Figs. 1 and 2 represent the invention on an enlarged scale, for greater clearness, whereas the remaining figures are on a scale considerably reduced from Figs. 1 and 2.

Combination locks of the type to which this invention relates which have heretofore been known in the art have possessed many of the important elements and parts which are here present, as a main shaft which operates the lock proper, sometimes called the bolt or dog, dials, a locking rod for preventing the operation of the shaft when the dials are not properly set, and an operating 5 cam upon the shaft. The locks of the prior art, however, as usually constructed, were also provided with a split sleeve or bushing surrounding the central operating shaft, and upon this bushing were mounted the rotating dials and also a series of stationary washers adapted to prevent the rotation of any one dial causing by friction a rotation of adjacent dials.

In our present invention, however, this sleeve or bushing is entirely eliminated and its place is taken by dial supports shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 9, which serve the purpose of both the washers and the bushing or sleeve of the prior art. By the elimination of the central bushing and the radical modification of the form of the stationary washers of the prior art, the device is much simplified, to which result also the elimination of other incidental parts contributes, as will be seen from the following specification.

In carrying our invention into effect in the embodiment thereof which we have selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings and for description in this specification, we provide a series of enclosures which when assembled produce a duplex or two-chambered casing, which is best shown in Fig. 2, where the lower part of the'casing is shown formed by the member 2| and the member 22, and the upper part of the casing formed by the cover 23. The lower compartment (see Fig. 2) contains the lock proper or bolt 24 and the cam 25 which operates the bolt 24 when the main shaft is rotated as hereinafter described; thebolt 24 is provided with tongues 26 laterally deflected from the main plane of the bolt so as to be able to engage with staples 21 which pass through perforations 28 in the member 2| when the box or other article to which the lock is applied is to be closed and secured. Itwill be seen that the bolt 24 is slidably mounted in the lower compartment of the casing by means of tongues bent upwards from the bottom of the member 2|, the location of the tongues and the shape of the bolt as here shown being such that the bolt 24 may be easily slipped into place under the tongues 95 when the device is being asembled but that when all the parts are in place the bolt does not have suflicient play to permit the same to escape from under said tongues, either accidentally or in consequence of any tampering with the lock. It 55...

will also be seen that the members 2! and 22 are secured together by means of tongues 91 which are bent outward from the member 22 and engage with apertures 98 in the sides of the 5 member 2|, no rivets or the like being required.

The upper compartment of the casing, located between the member 22 (common to both compartments) and the cover 23, is that which contains the dials and intermediate stationary dial supports, and also the operating handle-plate by which the shaft and lock are controlled when the dials are properly set and the key-pin or locking rod which prevents operation of the lock when the dials are not properly set, all as hereinafter more fully described.

The cover 23, as will be seen most clearly from the cross-sectional view Fig. 2, is of a stepped or successively contracted shape, so that the respective parts of the same hold the various dial and dial supports in proper position around the central shaft, the upper end of the said shaft being journaled in the extreme smallest portion at the top of the said cover 23. This cover 23 is secured to the member 22 by means of tongues 25 99 (see Fig. 2).

The operating shaft passes into both of the compartments above mentioned, as will be best seen in Fig. 2. The upper part of the shaft is designated and is in operative connection with 30 the dials, a smaller-diametered portion of the shaft, designated 31, extends through the plate 22 and down into the lower compartment, a lower portion of approximately the same diameter as the portion is designated 32 and rests upon the cam serving as a shoulder to keep the same in place, a next lower portion of somewhat smaller diameter is designated 33 and engages with an opening in said cam, and a terminal portion of still less diameter is designated 34 and serves to journal the lower end of the shaft in the casing 2|.

The operating shaft last above described is provided with a groove in the upper portion 38 and in the lower portions 32 and 33. This groove does 5v not appear in the view of the shaft shown in Fig. 2, because in that view the groove is turned away from the observer, as can be seen in Fig. 1. In Fig. 11, however, the shaft is shown isolated from the other parts and the groove plainly 50 appears, towards the observer, the groove in the upper part 30 being designated 35 and the groove in the lower part being designated 36.

In the upper compartment of the casing, located between the member 22 and the cover 23,

5 5 are located the various number-bearing dials which control the operation of locking and unlocking, as hereinafter explained. Any number of dials may of course be employed in a device of this kind, but in our present invention, in the 0 embodiment here shown and described, we employ three of such dials. These are shown assembled in Fig. 2, and are designated 45, ii and 42. These dials are also shown unassembled on Sheet 2 of the drawings, the dial 40 being shown 65 in Fig. 4, the dial II in Fig. 6, and the dial 42 in Fig. 8. These dials, as shown on Sheet 2 of drawings, bear the numerals lll, which when the parts are assembled appear through openings in the casing 23, shown in Fig. 1 and desig- 7 nated 43. The edges of these: dials are also serrated, for convenience in rotating the same, a small portion of each dial appearing through openings 44,135 and 46 in the cover 23, as shown in Fig. 1. By rotating these dials, by applying the "finger to said exposed edges, the dials may be arranged so that the numbers thereon appear in any desired sequence, as shown in Fig. 1, the numbers there showing the series 1, 2, 3, reading from the largest dial to the smallest.

Each of the dials has a central perforation 5 47, in which is formed a small lateral notch or socket 48.

In the upper compartment is also contained the operating handle-plate 50. This plate is shown in cross-section in Fig. 2. Projecting 10 radially from the same is an operating handle 52 (see Fig. 1). The plate 50 is also shown un assembled in Fig. 10. The plate 50 is provided with an annular downwardly extending corrugation 5|, formed in three sections, each extending 15 about one-third of the way around the same, leaving three intermediate high points between said sections, the same being designated 53. The operating plate 50 is provided with a central opening 55, having a portion of its periphery 0 inwardly projecting, the same being designated 56 (see Fig. 10.). When the parts are assembled in the position shown in Fig. 2, the projection 58 enters the groove 35 in the shaft 30 and remains therein, the said shaft and said operating plate 25 58 being thereby keyed together so that when one is rotated the other must also rotate.

In the upper compartment are also contained a series of dial supports which are shown in Fig.

2 and designated 60, GI and 62. These are also 30 shown unassembled on Sheet 2 of the drawings, the plate 69 being shown in Fig. 9, the plate 6| in Fig. '7 and the plate 62 in Fig. 5. Each of these dial supports is provided with a radially extending tongue 63. When the parts are assem- 35 bled, these tongues extend through the openings it, and 44 respectively, and the dial-supporting plates are thereby held against rotation.

Each of the dial supports above mentioned is provided with an annular downwardly extending 40, corrugation. These are shown in Fig. 2, and are designated respectively 65, 66 and 61. The central portion of each of these dial supports is perforated as shown at 68 in Fig. 5, 69 in Fig.7 and it in Fig. 9, and from each of these perforations ex- 45 tends a lateral notch or socket l3.

The inner portion of the dial supports, immediately surrounding the openings 88, 69 and it, is elevated a substantial distance out of the plane of the main portion of the dial supports, causing this portion of the dial supports, when seen in cross section as shown in Fig. 2, to assume an L- shaped appearance. The result is the formation of a series of annular members around the shaft 30, as will be best seen in Fig. 2, where they are designated '55, and which form bearings around which the number-bearing dials 40, ii and 32 may rotate.

In a device constructed according to our invention, in the embodiment thereof which is here illustrated and described, it is necessary to employ, in connection with the other elements and parts which have heretofore been mentioned, a key-pin or locking rod, which may be somewhat similar in construction and method of use to devices of that character which are employed in locks known to the prior art. This device is shown unassembled in Fig. 15, where it is designated but also appears in several of the other figures of the drawings, where'its relation to the other parts 70; is shown. More will be said about this in describing the operation of the device.

The partition member 22, which forms the dividing plate between the upper and lower compartments of the lock, is provided with an opening 7 6.;

through which the operating shaft passes. This opening is in the form of a slot, having a circular part 8! large enough to permit the passage of the larger portion 30 of the shaft when the device is being assembled, and also a smaller elongated narrow portion 82 in which the restricted smaller part 3| of the shaft rides (see Fig. 2). In this plate 22 we also provide three upwardly extending bosses 54, which will be seen in cross section in Fig. 2 and in plan view in Fig. 14:. These are located at equal distances from the axis of the shaft and in the line of a circle which corresponds to the circle in which lie the corrugations 5| in the operating plate 5!], as shown in Fig. 10, so that, when the parts are assembled, the corrugations 5| ride upon the bosses 54, thus elevating the operating plate 50 slightly above the level of the easing 22 except when the spaces 53 lie over the bosses 54, in which case the operating plate drops into contact with the plate 22, as shown in cross section in Fig. 2, thereby enabling the parts to operate more freely than would otherwise be the case.

The device shown in Fig. 12 forms the connect ing link between the operating shaft and the looking bolt 24. It is shown assembled in Fig. 1. It is provided with an approximately circular opening 96, but which has an inwardly projecting tongue 9!. When the parts are assembled, the member 25 lies around the portion 33 of the operating shaft, and the tongue 9! enters the groove 36, by which means the member 25 and the operating shaft are keyed together. There is also provided a terminal tongue 92 which engages with the bolt 24 and shoots the same backward or forward, in a manner which will be well understood.

The operation of our invention as is follows:

. When the various members and parts are assembled, they occupy the relative positions shown in Fig. 2. When in this position, the number-bearing dials 40, 41 and 42 may be-freely rotated by applying the finger to the serrated edges which project slightly into the openings 44, 45 and 45, as shown in Fig. 1, until any predetermined series of numbers appears through the openings 43, as shown in Fig. 1. When the number-bearing dials are in any other than the said predetermined position at which any particular individual lock is planned to operate, the operating shaft cannot rotate and the member 25 at the foot thereof cannot shift the bolt.

The operating shaft normally stands, not in the position shown in Fig. 11 with its groove facing the observer, but in the position shown in Fig. 2, that is to say, with its groove facing away from the observer. The dial-supporting plates, which surround the upper part of the operating shaft, are in fixed relation to the casing, and their notches 13 point in the direction away from the observer in Fig. 2 and are contiguous to the groove 35 in the operating shaft. The locking member 80 in such case lies partly in the groove 35 of the operating shaft and partly in the notches 13 of the dial-supporting plates, thus keying the dialsupporting plates and the shaft together, so that the shaft cannot rotate. The locking pin 80 is not free to pass into the extreme outer end of the notches l3 and thereby release the shaft, for the reasonthat the number-bearing dials also surround the shaft and prevent the locking pin from passing out of the groove in the shaft. The parts are thus immovably secured in the fixed position, and it is impossible to shift the bolt of the look, by means of the member 25, and it is also impossible to open the look by any tampering or jimmying from outside the casing, as it will be observed (see particularly Fig. 1) that the shapeand location of the bolt 24 are such that any attempt to push the bolt to the right while the member 25 mm its left-hand or locking position will result in an endwise rather than a lateral thrust of the bolt 24 upon the member 25 and will consequently not tend to release the latter or move it toward the right, but will if anything tend to move it slightly downward or further to the left and thus hold it 10- even more firmly in its locking position.

When, however, the number-bearing dials are arranged in their predetermined position for operating the look, so that all the notches 48 coincide with all the notches 13, the locking pin 15 80 is able to leave the groove 35 and pass out into the notches 48 and 13. This position is shown in the diagrammatic views Figs. 17 and 18. Fig. 17 shows the position of the parts after the dials have been set at the proper predetermined 20 numbers and the locking pin is about to slip out of the groove in the shaft and into the notches 48 and l3 and thereby allow the shaft to rotate, and Fig. 18 shows the position after the shaft has made its partial rotation, thus operating the 25 bolt; It will be understood that the actual rotation of the shaft is accomplished by the motion of the operating plate 50, by means of the handle 52, this plate being permanently keyed to the shaft as above explained. 30,

The advantages of our invention'will be entirely obvious from what has been above said with regard to its construction, and operation, and we need not occupy space to enlarge upon the same any further. 35

We do not limit ourselves to the particular details of construction set forth in the foregoing specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as the same refer to and set forth only one embodiment of the invention and it is 40 obvious that the same may be modified, within the scope of the appended claims, without dc.- parting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 45 Patent is as follows:

1. In a permutation lock of the kind herein referred to, the following elements in combination: a containing case, a locking bolt slidably -mounted in said case, a rotatable shaft adapted 5 to operate said bolt, a series of character-bearing dials surrounding said shaft and rotatable independently thereof, dial-supporting members located between said character-bearing dials to separate the same from each other, said dial- 55 supporting members being formed from comparatively thin disks, a portion of same being bent at an angle with the main portion thereof and the inner central portion thereof being bent into a plane parallel to that of said main portion so as to act as a bushing between said shaft and said character-bearing dials, upon which bushing said character-bearing dials are adapted to rotate, and means operatively connecting said rotatable shaft and said dial-supporting members and said character-bearing dials so that when said dials and dial-supporting members are in a predetermined position said rotatable shaft is free to rotate and thereby operate said bolt and when said dials and dial-supporting mem- 7 bers are in certain other predetermined positions said shaft is locked against rotation and said bolt prevented from sliding.

2. In a permutation lock of the kind herein referred to, the following elements in combination: a containing case, a locking bolt slidably mounted in said case, a rotatable shaft adapted to operate said bolt, a series of characterbearing dials surrounding said shaft and rotatable independently thereof, dial-supporting members located between said character-bearing dials to separate the same from each other, and means of successively varying diameters, and a cover composing part of said casing formed from a comparatively thin piece of material bent into stepped construction, each portion thereof being adapted to the diameter of one pair of dialsupporting members and character-bearing dials.

3. In a permutation lock of the kind herein referred to, the following elements in combination: a containing case, a locking bolt slidably mounted in said case, a rotatable shaft adapted .to operate said bolt, a series of character-bearing dials surrounding said shaft and rotatable independently thereof, dial-supporting members located between said character-bearing dials to separate the same from each other, and means operatively connecting said rotatable shaft and said dial-supporting members and said characterbearing dials so that when said dials and dialsupporting members are in a predetermined position said rotatable shaft is free to rotate and thereby operate said bolt and when said dials and dial-supporting members are in certain other predetermined positions said shaft is locked against rotation and said bolt prevented from sliding, said shaft being provided with a toe adapted to slide said bolt into non-operative position when said shaft is turned in one direction and to slide said bolt into locking position when said shaft is turned in the opposite direction and upon said opposite turning motion being continued after the throwing of said bolt into locking position to engage with said bolt and prevent it being moved into non-locking po- ,5

sition until the rotatable shaft is again turned in the first-mentioned direction, said bolt member being provided with a recess in the portion of its periphery adapted to be engaged by said toe, the contour of said recess being such that 10 during one portion of the movement of said toe the same may engage and move said bolt but upon the motion of said toe being substantially continued after said bolt has passed into looking position any attempted backward movement 15 of said bolt in the unlocking direction will bear endwise upon said toe or will force same further into its locking position, said bolt being thereby positively secured against any attempted unlocking movement while said toe is in said po- 20 sition.

4. In a permutation lock of the kind herein referred to, the following elements in combination: a containing case, a locking bolt slidably mounted in said case, a rotable shaft adapted to operate said bolt, a series of character-bearing dials surrounding said shaft and rotatable independently thereof, dial supporting members located between said character-bearing dials to separate the same from each other, means operatively connecting said rotatable shaft and said dial-supporting members and said characterbearing dials so that when said dials and dialsupporting members are in a predetermined position said rotatable shaft is free to rotate and thereby operate said bolt and when said dials and dial-supporting members are in certain other predetermined positions said shaft is locked against rotation and said bolt prevented from sliding, and a cover composing part of said casing formed from a comparatively thin piece of material and provided with an opening permitting access to said character-bearing dials.

SIEGMUND BLUMENFELD. PASQUALE LO CASCIO. 

